Cheat meals!?

Samm471

does anyone have a cheat meal? Or do you just work some cheat foods or should I say "bad foods" or whatever your preference is into their calorie goals? I haven't had a takeaway in 6 months and will be having one next weekend however instead of ordering a full meal to myself I'm going to just half 1 meal between me & my partner .. How far do people go with food does anyone totally cut bad food out of their lives for good? I like to have the odd biscuit or piece of chocolate but I don't over indulge I will have like a square of chocolate rather than a full bar. Just curious as to what people do?

ForeverSunshine09

I fit all foods into my cals but, I also have cheat days once a week where I eat bigger portions of stuff I love like pasta or brownies and such. I have lost almost 33 lbs in 3 months. So I found what works for me which doesn't mean it works that way for other ppl.

Ninkyou

I don't. I just fit all that stuff in daily. I usually have a serving of ice cream every night. Eat fast food at least once a week if not more...

In context of a balanced diet, there's nothing wrong with having any of those things. Just fit it into your calorie goal.

Lasmartchika

I don't do cheat meals. I eat all the foods I love everyday, just make them fit into my daily calories.

Samm471

I think it's good you can do that , then that way your not totally depriving yourself of treats etc so that's quite good

CSARdiver

I learned to savor. Having rushed through every meal in my life I learned to slow down and actually enjoy my food. I don't think of anything a cheats unless you don't log it - just think of it as extra burn juice for the next workout.

mistikal13

I don't do cheat meals, but I do understand the appeal of it for some. I like to eat what I want everyday in smaller portions. Others like to save up those calories and have a large quantity on a designated day. To each his own.

Samm471

That's cool I never thought of the saving up the calories and having like a bigger portion on a designated day that sounds a good idea too , I must admit I am looking forward to my takeaway next weekend but I won't over indulge

naxeea

On my cheat meals I don't count.I eat whatever I'm craving for.It can be a cowboy steak burger from apple bees or molten lava cake or both lol my mouth is watering

Bizurke51

Samm471 wrote: »

does anyone have a cheat meal? Or do you just work some cheat foods or should I say "bad foods" or whatever your preference is into their calorie goals? I haven't had a takeaway in 6 months and will be having one next weekend however instead of ordering a full meal to myself I'm going to just half 1 meal between me & my partner .. How far do people go with food does anyone totally cut bad food out of their lives for good? I like to have the odd biscuit or piece of chocolate but I don't over indulge I will have like a square of chocolate rather than a full bar. Just curious as to what people do?

I did a cheat meal and a cheat day each week when I was focused on losing weight. Also had one epic cheat day a month, which is the only time I'd go over my calorie budget.

vickyplum

I have a day that I just eat what I want to I used to eat loads of stuff but felt so ill afterwards I stopped doing that but I still have my day that I eat what I want just not to the excess that I used to and I feel doing that keeps me on track as I dont feel as if I'm missing out, but IMO do what is best for you not what other people think you should do xxx

RogerDeRok

I do cheat meals, but try to limit them as much as possible. If I have one, I try to balance the days surrounding it to make myself still stay under the calorie goal for the entire week instead of looking at that particular day separately.

allyphoe

There's no virtue to be found in food; nor is there lack of virtue. Food is neither good nor bad. Eating food you like isn't a betrayal.

If you choose to eat some food, do it because you choose to eat it. Not because you deserve it, or because you've been "good," or any other judgment-laden reason. You don't call it cheating on your commute if you take a different route. You don't walk on one side of the street because the other one is bad. You don't reward yourself for reading a book by watching TV. You can still reach your goal if sometimes you stop to smell the flowers, and there's nothing wrong with flowers.

meganjcallaghan

I don't believe any food is "bad". unless you're allergic. Then it's bad....for you...but still not in general. If I want something and it fits my calories, I'll eat it. If it doesn't fit, I'll just tack another 10k onto my run and MAKE it. lol

GreenIceFloes

I don't like that phrase at all. Eat everything you want as long as you stay within your (daily or weekly) calorie budget, hit your macros, and have your fill of micronutrients.

I have takeout at least once a week (and my fair share of alcohol) and have been steadily losing weight. And getting healthier (off blood pressure and thyroid meds simply by doing the above).

Moderation is key - don't overindulge, but there is no need to restrict oneself to too great an extent either.

GreenIceFloes

allyphoe wrote: »

There's no virtue to be found in food; nor is there lack of virtue. Food is neither good nor bad. Eating food you like isn't a betrayal.

If you choose to eat some food, do it because you choose to eat it. Not because you deserve it, or because you've been "good," or any other judgment-laden reason. You don't call it cheating on your commute if you take a different route. You don't walk on one side of the street because the other one is bad. You don't reward yourself for reading a book by watching TV. You can still reach your goal if sometimes you stop to smell the flowers, and there's nothing wrong with flowers.

Agreed.

jaga13

I don't consider any food as "cheating" or bad. Do I limit the high calorie choices on most days? Yes, absolutely. But I look forward to and fit into my budget everything I want. I will be eating at a restaurant tonight and will only eat half the meal.

Samm471

All good points made! Everyone has a different outlook on it some people don't call it bad food or a cheat meal and some do but each to their own I guess it's just whatever makes you happy some people might not eat those things simply because they don't want to its each individual's preference I guess

Capt_Apollo

there are meals that i eat that are very healthy such as a salad, grilled chicken, and a sweet potato. that's a healthy meal.

but a "cheat" meal of smoked pork belly, mac and cheese, cornbread, and a beer that still fits into my calories is okay too.

SherryTeach

I would never use the word "cheat" to describe food that I purposefully eat. I never cheat myself. Mainly, I fit my treats into my calorie level and go over for special occasions that I plan for in advance. It is definitely not cheating.

oilphins

This topic has come up quite a bit. Everyone is different when deciding on a cheat meal or day. Some people like to have their 'bad foods' on a daily basis but small portion sizes to fit into their calories, and there's nothing wrong with that. I personally for the last few years have my cheat DAY, not just a meal every Saturday. I still keep up with my running and boxing everyday and my weight is always where I want to be. Now having said that, I don't injest a ridiculous amount of calories on Saturday but if I want to have a burger or a few beers with some buddies, I don't feel guilty doing it.

SuggaD

Cheating is bad. Make the foods you like fit into your new lifestyle. For me, that means lots of pizza and frozen yogurt or gelato, restaurant meals between Friday-Sunday. Lots of bacon and pancakes during the week.

Saryia

I do a cheat meal once a week, if my body craves it. I've noticed that for me, the more I eat "clean" and less processed food, the less I "need" that cheat meal.

kwtilbury

Artificially lower your daily calorie total so that you can have a "cheat" meal or two and still hit your calorie total for the week.

LovebugHiraeth

When I first started the whole weight loss journey on this website I was 178lbs and I had a "cheat" day every Friday and I got down to 139lbs that way.. so, yeah, I have cheat meals if I feel like. But I can have "cheat" like things every day if I want... so long if they fit into my calories.

We're only human, we're going to have a few days where we screw up and eat more, the only difference between succeeding and not succeeding is if we continue to screw up or if we chose to get back on track.

shadowfax_c11

I am far too serious about loosing the weight to cheat. I do however enjoy pretty much anything I feel like eating every day. I just think more carefully about how to fit it into my day and plan for it.

Nope it's not easy. But I am worth the effort.

BeginnersBootcamp

I allow those "fun foods" into my daily diary as long as I stay under calories. Even when I stay under, I feel guilty about eating something not clean- anyone else? I have HUGE regret afterwards and feel like I am wasting my day

Machka9

Samm471 wrote: »

That's cool I never thought of the saving up the calories and having like a bigger portion on a designated day that sounds a good idea too , I must admit I am looking forward to my takeaway next weekend but I won't over indulge

I fit what I want to eat into my calorie count.

That might mean exercising more to give me some room to play with.

Or it might mean saving calories.

This weekend, I knew we were going away and would be eating out, so I deliberately exercised more than usual and had an extra 200 cal deficit each day on Thursday and Friday, giving me an extra 400 cal this week. I also I exercised as much as I could today ... lots and lots of walking + a little bit of cycling.. I'm going over my cal today just slightly (about 150 cal) but I figure I've got it covered with that extra 400 cal I banked on Thurs and Fri. So overall this week, I'm still in deficit.

And I don't do this sort of thing every weekend ... the last time I did this was Easter where I had a carefully planned deficit for 2 days so I could go over slightly for 2 days, and still be well within a weekly calorie limit. And I lost 1 kg a few days after Easter, so I guess it worked.

Samm471

Sometimes I get annoyed with myself because I do so well for a few days then eat something really sugary for example I've eaten really well the past few weeks and exercised loads and loads but I had a packet of quavers at 85 calories and a little high In fat and I feel bad about it. I don't know wether I should or not I think because I've been eating so well and keeping on track past few weeks it makes me feel guilty

meganjcallaghan

no food is inherently evil, nor should a person ever feel guilty for choosing to eat a specific type of it. Unless it belongs to someone else. Like if someone finds the liter of cappuccino frozen yogurt i'm planning to devour tonight and takes it before i can get to it.....then they should feel very VERY guilty.

christinapapou

On days I know I will have pasta or a dinner out, I try to have low calorie foods during the day like egg whites and salads so when I have my meal its sort of balanced.